We all go through troubling times, and it’s easy to get disheartened when that happens. But the Bible teaches that even during periods of challenge and adversity, we can respond correctly. Today’s passage tells us to rejoice. This doesn’t mean we’re to be glad about the hardship, but we should rejoice because we’re protected by God for the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.
Another reason for joy is that trials are designed to produce endurance and spiritual maturity in us (James 1:2-4). God wants us to hang in there so we can derive the full benefit of whatever lesson He has in mind.
Our heavenly Father also uses trials to prove to His children that their faith is genuine (1 Pet. 1:7). When we persevere through each difficulty, our faith is tested and refined, reassuring us of our salvation.
As we learn that God brings benefit from our adversities, we’ll begin to face challenging times with confidence, knowing He always has our best interest in mind. This leads to joy, because we know He is building our endurance, purifying our heart, and making us people with unshakeable trust in Him.
Every society depends on its elders to pass down those things that help preserve its history and moral center. For this reason, parents and grandparents have the awesome responsibility of passing down biblical truths and principles.
When I was 17, I decided to visit my granddad. I had an entire week to spend at his home, and all I wanted to do was listen to him. One of the most impactful things he said to me was, “Charles, obey God. If He tells you to run through a brick wall, head for the wall. And when you get there, God will make a hole for you.”
He shared that his youthful passion had been to preach, but this dream was blocked by his lack of education. With no schooling, he didn’t see how he could ever be a pastor. But he did learn to preach—by crying out to God for help and reading his Bible.
From that humble beginning, he started to minister, and as the Lord opened opportunities, my grandfather eventually established numerous churches. He taught me that when we really want to do God’s will, our heavenly Father will move heaven and earth to show us the way.
Difficult times are opportunities to praise our faithful Father.
To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the scriptures referenced throughout.
As Christians, we have the opportunity to experience deep and abiding joy. It’s a blessing we receive because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, knowing that He’s at work in every detail of our life. But that doesn’t mean our days are problem-free.
Think back to Peter as he walked on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:22-33). The disciples’ vessel had been battered all night, leaving them exhausted and fearful, but despite all that, Peter had the courage to call to His Lord and step out onto turbulent waters. It was only when he took his eyes off Jesus that the disciple began to sink. But even then, the Savior refused to abandon His beloved friend. Instead, He “took hold of him” and brought Peter back to safety.
The same is true for us whenever we are facing adversity. (See Psalm 126:1-6.) If we are conscious of the Lord’s continuous presence with us, we can express gratitude no matter what, because God will provide a way through the challenge.
Think about it
What is your “default setting” in times of adversity? Is it fear, anger, or despair—or do you view hard times as a chance to rely on and rejoice in God’s provision?
While growing up, I had several Sunday school teachers, but Craig Stowe is the one I remember most. A few times a month, Mr. Stowe stopped on his way home when he saw me delivering newspapers. He’d ask how I was doing and inquire if there was anything he could pray about for me. And before he pulled away, he always bought a newspaper—for five times its worth.
Those brief conversations with Mr. Stowe had a significant impact on my life. I knew he cared about me because he took the time to look me in the eye and make sure I was doing well. That feeling of love is one I try to pass on, even if I have just a few minutes with a person.
Believers are called to love one another “in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). You can make a big difference in someone’s life with simple acts of service and kindness—a hug, a conversation, a meal. You don’t have to reach a large crowd; just let God use you to show one person at a time that you care. All it takes for someone to feel God’s love is a little bit thoughtful attention.
When Christ taught His disciples to pray, He began by addressing God as “Our Father.” All of us who’ve been born again into God’s household have this same right. Since our concept of the heavenly Father is limited by our perceptions of earthly dads, let’s consider what Scripture says about His care for us.
Our heavenly Father loves us.1 John 4:16 tells us His love will never cease. Even when we disobey, it’s demonstrated in discipline (Hebrews 12:6).
He hears our prayers. God is never too busy for us. He invites us to draw near to His throne with confidence to receive grace, mercy, and help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
The Father is our provider and protector. He promises to supply all that we need and protect us from the evil one (Matt. 6:11; Matt 6:13). Every event in our life is filtered through His sovereign will.
The Lord is our guide. He’s given us His Word to direct our path (Psalm 119:105).
By viewing the Father through the truth of Scripture instead of our preconceptions, we’ll see Him as He truly is and discover a security we’ve never known before.
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Today’s psalm calls us to continually exalt and magnify the Lord, regardless of the situation. As we gaze at God through His Word, our understanding of Him becomes greater, as if we’re looking through a magnifying glass. We see the wonders of His nature and deeds more clearly and can’t help but respond in praise.
To grasp this concept of magnifying the Lord, consider how Paul responded to being imprisoned in Rome (Philippians 1:12-14). Instead of complaining about the situation, he accepted it with grace, knowing that this was God’s path for him. Through it all, he kept praising and exalting Christ. Even though Paul couldn’t preach or start churches as he once did, the Lord opened up a new way to serve—prison ministry and written correspondence that eventually ended up in the New Testament.
Whatever is happening in your life—good or bad, long-term or short—you have the opportunity to magnify the Lord through it. This not only benefits you with a greater appreciation of Him, but it also encourages others who see your witness. When a believer passes through trials peacefully and praises the Lord, even unbelievers notice.
Choosing to buy your own equipment will save you money in the long run because you won't have to pay any membership fees when you develop your own in-home gym. However, you must be committed to working out regularly at home if you want to get maximum benefit from your new in-home fitness equipment.
What Do You Need
Your dream home gym will depend on your age and current needs. If you want to lose weight, you would choose some conventional exercises like crunches. However, if you want to be strong, you may choose heavy tugging machines or to construct a place where you can do deadlift. In the end: it depends on your choice.
These are some of the most important aspects to consider when you build your home gym. The first thing you need to do when thinking about what kind of equipment you want to buy is to answer these questions: how often do you want or need to work out? Do you want to build muscle or tone your body? Do you have a space for a full gyms or in already limited space? All of these answers can help you pick the right equipment for your personal gym.
If you have decided to arrange a home gym, the next step is to select the fitness equipment that will help you achieve your fitness goals while ensuring they are safe and effective. It is important when shopping for fitness equipment to get quality over quantity, and make sure you consider stability, durability and safety.
Choose Equipment According To Your Budget
Depending on your budget, you will have to choose the right equipment for you. Start by adding up how much money you can spend and then according to that set up a budget. A home gym doesn't have to be expensive and it's easy with the right research.
Choose Equipment According To Your Need
There are two basic kinds of workout equipment: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic training involves short bursts of intense activity with rests in between, such as running or cycling. Anaerobic training involves controlled workouts designed to increase strength, such as free weight workouts or swims. As a general rule of thumb, if you want to increase muscle size, you should choose anaerobic exercise. If you want to lose weight and tone your body, you should choose aerobic exercise.
Choose Equipment According To Your Space
Now that you have familiarized yourself with home gym equipment, the next step is to decide which equipment will be the best fit for your home. Estimate and draw out a floor plan of your room, listing what you want each piece of equipment to do. Then, begin to search for pieces that can incorporate multiple fitness functions into one piece.
In order to build a well-equipped gym at home without great costs, you can do it gradually. Begin with a regular gymnastic bar, add weightlifting training of barbells and dumbbells, gradually acquire horizontal bars, multi-gyms, weight machines, benches and special fitness equipment that you need. Get started today!
Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians addressed several problems in the church, including the misuse of spiritual gifts. The people in that fellowship valued only certain gifts—believers with the “better” ones were elevated above others, while those without the preferred abilities were considered less important.
In teaching about spiritual gifts, Paul warned church members not to think more highly of themselves than they ought (Romans 12:3). The gifts are not given to exalt certain individuals but to benefit the congregation, and no gift is more important than any other. God considers them all necessary for the health of a local church. Each believer receives at least one gift in accordance with the Spirit’s purposes and choosing. It’s God’s business to decide who has which ability.
We must be careful not to assign undue value to certain gifts. Nor should we place unwarranted emphasis on giftedness as a way to assess one’s spiritual maturity or importance in the church. Let’s release any preconceived ideas about the value of spiritual abilities and instead celebrate how God builds each local body of believers. Our omniscient Father places His children where they can minister through their gifts and also be blessed by others doing likewise.
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